MESA"s innovative Job Shadow Day takes place next week

The Midland Employment Support Agency"s (MESA) innovative one-day job shadow event takes place on Wednesday of next week, April 22. The event is dedicated to giving people with disabilities a unique opportunity to "shadow" a workplace mentor (company employee) as he or she goes about a normal day at work. MESA is funded by FAS to deliver this specialised employment service throughout the Midlands. In order to promote this valuable service MESA developed Job Shadow Day to mobilise the employment of people with disabilities, while raising awareness around their employability. MESA developed the idea of Job Shadow Day and it became a national event last year when hundreds of employers across the country took part. Job Shadow Day provides an opportunity for people with a disability to shadow an employee in the workplace for one day as they go through their normal work. They get to learn about potential job opportunities and gain greater insight around job requirements and employer expectations. The day highlights what people with disabilities can contribute to the workforce and encourages employers to expand their horizons when recruiting. Unemployment runs higher in the disability working age sector than in any other working age sector in Ireland with 63% or 189,000 people with disabilities of working age being unemployed in 2004. Job Shadow Day is intended to be a very straightforward process but it needs the support of employers to be a success. Employment Officer and Job Coach Wanda Shaw (086 3873047) welcomes enquiries from potential employers locally. Further information is available on the Job Shadow Initiative on www.mesa4.com